ALAMEDA — The off-season got underway Tuesday when NFL teams were able to begin declaring free transition or franchise free agents, designations which much be made by March 6.

The NFL scouting combine begins Feb. 27, with the legal tampering period for free agency starting March 12 with players eligible to be signed when the new league year begins on March 14.

Answering some of your questions as to how the Raiders might attack the off-season with Jon Gruden as head coach:

Q: With an unprecedented QB free agent market, does this mean more quality FA’s will be available while QB needy teams duel for a QB? If so, could the Raiders land a player like Trumaine Johnson? — Nathaniel Martin (email)

Not sure whether the two are related, but it is true with quarterback solidified, the Raiders need only seek a backup to compete with Connor Cook behind starter Derek Carr. Johnson, after six seasons with the St. Louis-L.A. Rams, was franchised each of the last two seasons and has pocketed more than $30 million.

The Raiders have already parted with David Amerson and could do the same with Sean Smith, who is due $8.25 million and can be released without any salary cap acceleration. Johnson would be an upgrade, no doubt, and in a perfect world would start opposite a (hopefully) healthy Gareon Conley.

Although general manager Reggie McKenzie has over-payed in free agency on occasion, it’s hard to imagine him shelling out what it might take to reel in Johnson, a good player who’s never made a Pro Bowl. That’s where Gruden comes in and what makes the dynamic interesting. Will Gruden insist on occasion that McKenzie ante up even if the G.M. is reluctant to do so? Stay tuned.

Q: I’ve heard that Gruden wants to run a combination of Andy Reid’s offense in Kansas City and Sean McVay’s offense in LA. Is this true, and if so, is that why he hired Greg Olson as his OC? — Ethan Hougaard (email)

There will be overlap with both systems. Gruden and Reid started their NFL careers with Mike Holmgren in Green Bay and share many of the same philosophies. McVay got his first NFL job under Gruden with Tampa Bay in 2008, worked with Jay Gruden in Washington and considers Jon a mentor. So yes, that’s a big reason why Olson is back with the Raiders. He is intimately familiar with how Gruden wants things done.

Q: Who do you think Jon will draft and what is your favorite memory covering him? — Jaden Diamond (email)

Much will depend on who stays and who goes on the current roster and the draft isn’t until April 26. I don’t think Gruden has any idea at this point who he’ll draft. Spent an entire day shadowing Gruden in Napa (starting at 3:30 a.m.) once for a two-page spread in 2000. But my favorite day was probably when he was coaching the Bucs and I was the lone media member at a private pre-draft workout for Aaron Rodgers at Cal in 2005. Got to sit in as Gruden and Tampa Bay assistants questioned Rodgers (it was almost all Gruden) at the greaseboard. When Gruden’s quarterback series shows began, I felt like I’d already had a sneak preview.

Q: Is it totally clear about the level of influence Gruden will have in the draft going forward? For example, most experts seem to believe that the Raiders should target a linebacker early in the draft, but given McKenzie’s reluctance to take one in the early rounds (ex: Marquel Lee/Ben Heeney in 5th, Cory James in 6th, etc.), that would seem unlikely. Do you believe Gruden has the authority to make the decisions that would go against McKenzie’s personnel philosophies? — Matthew Audish (email)

Gruden’s rate of pay makes it clear the final call will be his, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be listening to McKenzie. And while you’re correct that McKenzie has looked to later rounds for linebackers, Gruden doesn’t have a track record of picking them early, either. He had final say in Tampa Bay from 2003 through 2008 and the highest pick the Bucs used on a linebacker was Barrett Ruud out of Nebraska in the second round (No. 36 overall) in 2005. While Gruden was content to let Al Davis and the personnel department run the draft, he clashed with Rich McKay in Tampa Bay, eventually bringing Bruce Allen in as general manager. Gruden needs McKenzie this year because there is so much to be done in terms of rebuilding the team in terms of philosophy and systems of football. The only way to know if they’re compatible beyond that is to see how it goes this year.

Q: is there any new information about the futures of Michael Crabtree and Seth Roberts? Does it appear likely that both will be back with the Raiders next season? — Matthew Audish (email)

Given Roberts’ signed an extension last year and cutting him would mean a $2 million acceleration against the cap, it’s likely he stays for a year. Roberts was signed and developed under McKenzie’s watch, and the G.M. will push hard to keep him. As for Crabtree, due $7 million in salary, Gruden said he wanted to get the best out of him when we spoke last week. That’s not carved in stone, however, and if Crabtree shows any indifference toward the new regime, he can be released without penalty.

Q: How do you feel the city of Oakland will handle the moving of the franchise will they allow the team to retain the name of the Raiders or will it be like a Browns situation when they tried to move to Baltimore? Could this also be a last ditch effort as well for the fans of Oakland to keep them in the Bay Area? — T.J. Clayton (email)

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The name “Raiders” will stay with the franchise, not with a municipality. It would appear the only hope for the Raiders remaining would be for the Las Vegas deal to fall apart. Now that the shovels are in the ground, don’t count on that happening. The best local fans can hope for at this point are construction issues or delays which would keep the team in Oakland longer than two years.

Q: After watching David (Carr) on a video of him and Dak showing off their QB skill, David looks extremely accurate. I know he’s not in his prime but for Derrick to have his big brother David as his back up and helping to mentor, support and learn Gruden’s offense doesn’t seem like a bad idea? Thoughts? — 3076310072 (email)

David Carr last played in 2012 and he’s always available to his brother as a mentor. Besides, the plan for Carr is to turn him loose. He’s a veteran quarterback now who doesn’t need training wheels. The intrigue this off-season will be whether Gruden spices up the backup competition by taking a flyer on Johnny Manziel, the former Heisman Trophy winner. It’d be a no-risk move on a guy who may get one last chance to save his career.

Q: How much input will Gruden have in FA and the Draft process? And instead of having a “lead back”, can we see a RBBC this year, shades of Tyrone Wheatley, Garner, and Crockett? — Callifornia Cool, @California_C00L

The Raiders didn’t do things appreciably different this year with Marshawn Lynch, who carried 207 times. Tyrone Wheatley never had more than 242 carries with the Raiders, Charlie Garner’s highest was 211. In a Sports Illustrated story that posted Tuesday, Gruden talked of Lynch being a “lead back.” But he still has to know Lynch is totally invested in the program and contact with the running back has been minimal by league rule. Nothing is carved in stone.

Q: What do you think chances are that RM takes (Mike) McGlinchey in the 1st? Heard Tice was high on Sharpe and Alexander, yet neither could out play (Marshall Newhouse). Seems like a very safe pick, and it helps Carr, both the run & pass, plus an heir for LT once Penn leaves. A true win-win….win. — Mr. McMurderer, @Mrmcmurderer

McKenzie believes in building strong offensive and defensive lines. Ideally, you want the No. 9 or 10 pick (depending on 49ers coin flip) to contribute right away, and taking McGlinchey would mean the highest-paid pick would likely spend a year on the bench. For that reason, I’d guess elsewhere.

Q: Why don’t we open Mt. Davis in 2018? — DOWN BY LAW, @raiderjo77

Talked with CEO Marc Badain about this during training camp last year and he was adamant that filling the east structure known as Mt. Davis would detract from the game day experience in terms of parking, transportation and the ability to properly service fans in the stands. So even though there was a waiting list for season tickets, the traps stayed put. To my knowledge, it will remain that way.

Q: Would the Raiders listen to the Buffalo Bills to trade our 1st rounder, and what would it take for us to pick up the phone? Of course if their QB is available at our spot. — Stephen Lopez, @StPolez

McKenzie loves the idea of getting extra picks. If the Bills, picking at No. 21, have their heart set on a quarterback who is available at No. 9 or 10, then McKenzie will listen and be open to adding more picks — especially if a player he’s targeted is already off the board.

Q: Who is going to make the cut out of Carrie, Bowman, Lynch , Crabtree, Autry and Ellis? — Michael Stewart, @stewg37

TJ Carrie, NaVorro Bowman, Justin “Jelly” Ellis and Denico Autry are scheduled for unrestricted free agency and will be open to the highest bidder if not locked up before March 14. The Raiders have a reasonable chance at landing all three unless another team makes a huge offer. The sleeper in this group could be Autry, a rugged base end who is the Raiders’ top defensive lineman not named Khalil Mack. Gruden is saying all the right things about Marshawn Lynch and Michael Crabtree. But he’s going to want to know both men are fully invested in the program.